The riders of the Derbi team head to Japan eager for good results in the opening round

The riders of the Derbi team head to Japan eager for good results in the opening round

The riders of the Caja Madrid Racing Team are heading out to Japan keen to kickstart the 2003 125cc World Championship. Emilio Alzamora, title winner in the category during 1999, and Jorge Lorenzo, making his debut at Suzuka, are both poised and anxious to finish as high up the order as possible, after a pre-season period visiting the circuits of Almería, Jerez, Estoril (Portugal) and Valencia. Lorenzo makes his Suzuka debut having missed out last season because he had not reached the legal age required by the FIM.

`Emilio and Jorge are physically in good shape and the team are prepared to tackle this new challenge. The winter was difficult, but the work and the dedication deserve a prize, in fact for sheer effort we deserve a very big one. The first race is usually a tense and nervous time, although we are all confident of starting the season on a positive note´, assured Giampiero Sacchi, general manager of Caja Madrid Derbi Racing Team.
Emilio Alzamora who makes his debut with the Spanish team this season said:
´After a lot of training, both on the track and in the gym, the moment of truth has arrived. Now it´s time to jump on the track and go as fast as possible. I am really looking forward to starting the season and knowing where we are in terms of our level; in the tests it was not easy to gauge our progress. After two years in the 250s, to return to the 125cc class is a challenge that I relish just as much as gracing my sporting career by being in a factory team like Derbi. I think we are prepared to achieve great things if we keep on working like we are now´.
Jorge Lorenzo explained the difficulties in meeting a new circuit for the first GP of the season. ´Last year I wasn´t in Suzuka and I don´t really have any kind of reference for the job as a result; this represents a slight disadvantage. Everyone has been saying how I should just take it easy because it is a really long track. It is hard to remember and the slightest slip can result in losing precious seconds. Riding in tests over the winter I developed a good style on the bike and I think I am prepared to make a big step forward in respect of my performances of last season. I do not want to create unrealistic expectations of myself but I am not hiding the fact I am ambitious and I would like to figure among the top ten´.